New beneficiaries for Purpose Mentorship Programme

New beneficiaries for Purpose Mentorship Programme A platform for grooming young girls Tunohole Mungoba





The Purpose Mentorship Programme (PMP) launched its annual programme for 2021 on 27 March and it has welcomed 30 new beneficiaries.

Founded in 2015, PMP is a registered as a non-profit organisation and works with grade 11 and 12 girls in secondary schools around Katutura and Khomasdal in Windhoek. The participating schools for 2021 include Ella Du Plessis High School, Acacia High School, Dawid Bezuidenhout High School, Khomastura High School and CJ Brandt High School.

The programme’s primary mandate is to curb the high level of poor matric performance by assisting girls to pass their grade 11 and 12 and qualify for admission into tertiary institutions. The programme seeks to empower as well as address social challenges that the average Namibian girl child faces by taking 30 girls annually through a year-long accountability mentorship programme which includes bi-monthly developmental workshops, one-on-one sessions with beneficiaries, academic tutoring and specific school-based intervention sub-projects.

After two months of applications and screenings, the programme welcomed its new beneficiaries for the year. The beneficiaries are selected based on their economic and academic need as well as potential to contribute to social development within their communities.

Julia Nampweya, one of the directors of the programme, said there are lot of underprivileged girls in the community and this programme will reach out to them to provide them with economic and academic tools.

“There is a curriculum that the girls complete which starts in April. We cover topics such as sexual and reproductive health. During their workshops, we provide assistance and they are also assigned to a find a mentor who will assist them with all their needs,” she said.

Cayleigh Seibes, a teacher from Acacia High School, highlighted the importance of programmes like this that champion the interests, empowerment and education of the Namibian girl child and she urged all the participants to make the most of this opportunity, which not every girl gets. A 2020 beneficiary of the programme, Cathrin Snyders, thanked the organisation for creating a sisterhood that cares for and empowers young girls holistically. For partnerships and sponsorships, contact the programme on social media.

Photo 1: Nadeshda Namashana, organising committee and director at PMP, beneficiaries from Ella du Plessis High School and Jacky Hamunyela, organising committee and legal officer at PMP.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED